Rotary Club: Top 5 Things to Know in Ramona

I was invited to speak to the Ramona Rotary Club last week, and in a bid to better understand what's happening in Ramona and the priorities of different groups, we discussed the top five things know in town.

This list will kick off a series of posts I hope to do along these lines, inquiring with different individuals and groups to see what issues, events, organizations and activities most deserve attention in Ramona at any given time.

Rotary Club's top five:

1. San Vicente Road Improvement Project- It is slated to widen and align 2.5 miles of San Vicente Road from Warnock Drive just past Wildcat Canyon Road. Latest from the county says construction might begin in the spring.
2. Route 67 median barrier project- The median would likely be constructed along the majority of the road between Willow Road and Shady Oaks Drive in an attempt to prevent accidents. Alternatives considered include a concrete median barrier, a high tension cable median barrier, a metal median barrier and a median buffer.
3. Sol Orchard Solar Farm- Approved by the county and slated for 1650 Warnock Dr., it will use 8-foot-tall solar panels to produce 7.5 megawatts of power for delivery to San Diego Gas & Electric. Citizens boards in Ramona voted unanimously to oppose the project, contending it would not fit with the character of the community and would take away prime agricultural land and lead to blight.The county Board of Supervisors voted to deny appeals and grant a major-use permit for the 42.7-acre solar energy plant at the southern end of Ramona.
4. Oktoberfest- The first annual harvest celebration sponsored by the Ramona Chamber of Commerce is coming up on October 12. Live Entertainment, Beer & Wine Garden, Kids Zone and more.
5. Rising water rates- Rates for water and pumping services increased by 3 percent and sewer rates by 4.5 percent in July. The cost of pumping water up the hill to Ramona accounts for 20 percent of rates, according to the Ramona Water District general manager.